Key Takeaways
- A three-way partnership between Women’s Aid, the Mayor of London’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) and Airbnb to provide urgent temporary accommodation in London for survivors of domestic abuse and their children.
- Endorsed by the Mayor of London, this initiative builds on over £250k in donations Airbnb has made to Women’s Aid and furthers our longstanding commitment to tackling domestic abuse.
- This latest programme follows the emergency accommodation pilot Airbnb and Women’s Aid launched in October 2024.
Airbnb, in partnership with Women’s Aid and MOPAC has today launched its latest emergency accommodation programme in the city of London. Survivors and their children experiencing abuse will have access to free emergency accommodation in Airbnb properties across London, when specialist emergency accommodation is not available. To ensure the privacy and safety of survivors, Airbnb has implemented a specialised booking flow that protects their anonymity. Survivors will be connected to appropriate accommodation through Women’s Aid’s member services, and will receive essential one-to-one support services such as legal advice, advocacy and translation and help with practicalities like transport through Women’s Aid, helping them to recover and move on with their lives.
Since 2022, Airbnb has donated over a quarter of a million pounds to Women’s Aid and as part of this programme is committing £50,000 matched by up to £50,000 from MOPAC. This London programme represents the latest milestone in Airbnb’s support to help end domestic abuse, following a successful pilot emergency accommodation initiative launched in Manchester in October 2024. The insights from this pilot were critical in informing and enhancing the structure of the London roll out to best benefit survivors.
To mark the launch of the new programme, Velma Corcoran, Airbnb’s Director of Policy Strategy met with Women’s Aid CEO, Farah Nazeer, and the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, in an Airbnb listing in Camberwell to see an example of the type of accommodation that will be provided, and discuss the importance of working in partnership across all sectors, including with businesses, charities and Government.
I’m proud to be working with Airbnb and Women’s Aid on an innovative new pilot that will provide domestic abuse survivors, and their families, with free, emergency accommodation and the holistic support they need to recover and move forward.
Partnership work is a key part of my strategy to tackle violence against women and girls and I am committed to continuing to work with partners to explore innovations to ensure survivors can access the care and support they need, whilst also working with the Met to go after perpetrators of these heinous crimes. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan
Emergency accommodation is a lifeline for families fleeing domestic violence and our partnership with Women’s Aid and Airbnb will help families get the care and support they need at a time of crisis.
This innovative new pilot is part of the Mayor’s wide-ranging strategy to use every possible lever to tackle violence and abuse against women and girls. This includes providing the best possible support available for victims and survivors and record support for police officers to go after the most prolific offenders. It also includes long term prevention measures – including education and public awareness campaigns – to tackle deep rooted misogynistic attitudes and build a safer London for everyone. Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer Schwartz
We are proud to have launched our second emergency accommodation pilot in partnership with Women’s Aid and the Mayor, this time in the nation’s capital of London. We’re in the homes business and we believe everyone deserves one. This partnership uses the strength of Airbnb’s network to provide vital infrastructure to support survivors at a crucial time. The work that Women’s Aid do to support survivors of violence against women and girls is essential, and we hope this partnership helps them in achieving that mission and in keeping the communities we operate in safe. Velma Corcoran, Airbnb Director of Policy Strategy, EMEA
We are excited to be working with the Mayor of London and Airbnb to provide emergency accommodation and support to women and children fleeing abuse. There is a chronic shortage of refuge spaces for those fleeing abuse and this pilot, which brings together the public, private and non-profit sectors, will be a valuable opportunity for us to see the impact that these collaborations can have.
Systemic underfunding of specialist services has sadly meant that victims and survivors seeking support have been turned away at a point of crisis, with refuges operating a 60% refusal rate. Collaborations such as these will mean survivors now have options, instead of facing imminent homelessness or being forced to return to the abuser.
Eradicating domestic abuse needs a whole society approach, and this coming together of three sectors is a great start to this collaboration. Farah Nazeer, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid
The Airbnb pilot was a fabulous and innovative project, offering a much-needed alternative to traditional temporary accommodation. It allowed us to safely accommodate single survivors in environments that felt more personal, comfortable, and supportive helping many to feel secure and valued at a time of crisis.
Accommodating women and children in Airbnb properties rather than standard temporary accommodation would offer a more trauma-informed, family-centred environment, providing privacy, stability, and a sense of normality that supports recovery and emotional wellbeing. Children would benefit from safer, calmer spaces and continuity in school and community links. It could significantly improve outcomes for families affected by domestic abuse if implemented with the right oversight and coordination.
Overall, the pilot demonstrated real potential as a trauma-informed, survivor-centred housing option, and we would strongly support its continuation.
Women’s Aid
service
member who took part in the Manchester Pilot
About Airbnb
Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.
About Airbnb.org
Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc.’s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org’s charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 100,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform.
